Steve Peat To Have Knee Surgery To Repair ACL

Mar 26, 2015
by Pinkbike Staff  
Peatyyy

"Riding motocross has always been a key part of my winter training regime.” explains Steve. “On this occasion I was on a promo shoot for one of the team sponsors and had a slight collision with a beginner rider. The guy selected neutral on his bike just as I was entering the corner behind him. I couldn’t slow down in time, caught my bar on his exhaust and was thrown from my bike. I landed heavily, my knee compressed and I pivoted around my foot which stayed firmly planted to the ground. It made a nasty “pop” and I just thought “oh bugger”, as I knew what I’d done straight away.

Despite holding the record for World Cup Wins (17) and having a World Champion title (2009) under his belt, retirement is still not a word in the big Yorkshireman’s vocabulary.

I’ve been training as hard as ever over the winter, both physically and mentally. I even have the Stigmata video to prove it (laughs)! The test session with Fox Shox went really well in February, and the whole team is getting progressively quicker the more time we spend on the new V10. I could make it through the season without surgery, and just have my knee strapped up the whole time. But that’s a short-term solution. And I don’t have short-term plans when it comes to racing bikes.

Steve Peat shimmies his way betweeen some tight trees.

Dubbed “Sheffield Steel” by fans for his legendary indestructibility, Steve’s determination and ability to manage injuries is reflected by an astonishing 23 seasons of downhill racing at the highest level. It’a an almost unfathomable achievement that leaves everyone asking; “will we see Peaty on the World Cup circuit again this year?”

Yes.” he replies. “I don’t yet know how long it’ll be before I’m racing, but I’ll be with the team at each round. The Syndicate function together as a family. I think many people forgot that Greg started last season recovering from knee surgery too. Josh is still coming back from foot surgery. It’s part of the game and we’re crutches for each other. The sports psychology part of racing is something I still get a huge kick out of. I’m actually looking forward to being able to dedicate some energy into helping my team mates and mentoring some younger riders at the beginning of the season, as they prepare for the biggest races of the year, and my Steel City DH of course!

The first UCI World Cup Downhill race of the season takes place in Lourdes, France, on April 12.

Follow Steve and his team’s progress on “THE SYNDICATE”, a new web series charting the progress of the most successful DH team in history as they take on life, the universe and the World Cup circuit. Starting April 13.

www.santacruzbicycles.com

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Member since Jul 22, 2013
3,465 articles

67 Comments
  • 86 4
 Don't be a puss Steve...1 week is all it will take, just go the route Matt Hoffman took:-)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ36BPIoRF0&t=287
  • 16 0
 whoa. That dude has a high pain tolerance!
  • 7 0
 i wish mountain biking had its own sportscenter type show, get stevie, mat hoffman and jamie bestwick to host.
  • 4 0
 OMG, what crazy thing to do... but at least he could ride again quickly... Wink
  • 1 0
 so ridiculously brawlic....
  • 1 0
 Who was the motocross rider who got a root canal without any numbing? Said it was the most painful thing he has ever experienced.
  • 1 0
 Exactly what I thought, just Matt Hoffman that shit and your good to go.
  • 1 0
 find that doctor.. you could be back and not miss a single race lols
  • 25 1
 made of sheffield steel. no worries.
  • 2 0
 Aw...a good welder is all the man needs. Get well soon ma man!
  • 4 2
 Said two Americans.
  • 5 0
 a brit told me to say that
  • 18 0
 ">>>>But that’s a short-term solution. And I don’t have short-term plans when it comes to racing bikes.” Hats off to you sir.
  • 17 1
 One of the 'true' legends of mountain biking globally, wishing him a speedy recovery
  • 8 0
 If this man rode wearing all lycra on tarmac instead of being one of them there uncouth mountain bikers he would have been knighted before now for his efforts in this sport and the local scene around Sheffield... possibly one of the most successful British sportsmen ever and a thouroughly nice chap to boot (goes off to see if you can suggest people for the Queen's honours).......
  • 9 0
 Bugger! Terrible turn of fortune for Peaty. Heal up fast and well you legend!
  • 8 0
 Don't worry he's Steve Peat
  • 5 0
 Heal up fast Stevie!!! I am 41 and you are a solid inspiration. Just having you at the race will make it a better place. Everyone here loves the Syndicate and what it represents!
  • 7 0
 Don't back down Peaty!!!!
  • 6 0
 First Smith now Pete? Any other Steves going to get hurt before the season even starts?
  • 6 0
 Poor newbie guy, hurt big Peaty. If you're reading this, don't beat yourself up pal!
  • 1 0
 When I was a beginner - a riding buddy asked me why I was scared of going down hills and I said its just so fast - he said lets see what youre doing and he watched me go down a hill. He said I was doing things right and asked about the vid I watched that said how. It was one with Peaty in it, he said I should figure out the rest of the vid as well but its ok to slow down if I fear! I was 48 and that was 10 years ago! Get well Peaty and THANKS FOR THE INSPIRATION!
  • 1 0
 Tore my ACL and about everything else in my knee in June and am still waiting for surgery how i wish i was pro so i could get surgery sooner. Oh well there's always 2016 for biking only 2 years missed Frown
  • 1 0
 That's terrible... I had my surgery scheduled within two months from the diagnosis. Keep your head up man recovery is a long process
  • 3 0
 Oh no.....I would have neutralised the other chaps bike....peatys like the hulk there's no stopping him
  • 3 0
 Ah man, 'that guy' has got to feel sooo bad! Grabing neutral unexpectedly is the worst!
  • 1 0
 Speedy recovery and best wishes Peaty. Your an insperation for and beyond the MTB community! Cheers, and remember, stay loose rider!
  • 1 0
 Turned 40 years old this year figured I would do something new and went out and blew my acl out on a dirt bike too. It's been a blast recovering from surgery.
  • 4 0
 Noooooooooo!
  • 2 0
 Ride crossers long enough and it's fairly likely you're getting your acl done, no?

Get well soon big yin. Mtb needs you.
  • 6 7
 SHEFFIELD STEEL OUT…. f*ck MATE …... . NO NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • 7 1
 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...
  • 9 0
 ....OOOOOO-NO, NO, NO-NO, NO, THERE'S NO LIII-MITS
  • 1 0
 Heal quick! Lenzerheide needs you! Can't wait to see you back in action, I'll be there supporting you and the syndicate in both Lenzerheide and Leogang. Get well buddy!
  • 1 2
 When I played basketball in high school we had to sign an agreement saying we wouldn't engage in high risk activities like skiing etc (and we sucked). I'm surprised a pro athlete like Peaty isn't contractually compelled to refrain from certain high risk activities-- especially riding moto
  • 7 0
 Moto is great cross training and less wear and tear on the body when not done competitively. But random happens in all sports.

My mom tore her ACL stepping off a ladder at work. What's to do?
  • 3 0
 Like the article says, he was doing a promo shoot when it happened. Also, offseason moto is one of the best ways to train for DH -- between the strength increases and the speed perception, you'd be shocked at what moto does for a rider.
  • 2 0
 OK- I can see that. DH racing may be the single discipline where the reward might outweigh the risk.
  • 1 0
 There's loads of the top riders who all ride Moto, so they would have a hard time enforcing that one. Doesn't Gwin race Moto in the off season?
It seems the 2 go hand in hand. I have a mate who used to ride Moto and he's noticably more confident downhill and and jumps than the rest of us.
  • 2 0
 Lying in my bed recovering from an acl surgery. Speedy recovery Peaty!
  • 3 0
 Love this guy!
  • 1 0
 heal up quick Peaty we meed u back, when youre ready, the legend lives on!
  • 1 0
 Peeeeeeeeeeeaty! We all will be waitin for ya to come back.........hurry back steve! The team isn't a team without ya.....
  • 1 0
 can we get an post-op acl rehab video for mtn bikers? it seems like a lot of us are going through this.
  • 1 0
 NOOO! Get well soon steve!
  • 1 0
 Peatys my hero , what ever is best for him
  • 1 0
 listen to some 65 days of static to pass the time steve!
  • 1 0
 Speedy recovery Steve! The WC wont be the same without you racing
  • 1 0
 I do not have a back plan for my fantasy team.
  • 1 0
 Get well soon big man . Peaty for sportsmanship honours ! Legend
  • 1 0
 Good luck and heal up fast!
  • 1 0
 Heal fast, Mr. Peat. Eat your fruits and vegetables too.
  • 1 0
 Steely Steve Peat
  • 1 1
 Never be that guy.
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